New Grad Certificates aimed at business’ new digital, HR realities

Royal Roads University

Learn more about Royal Roads’ Graduate Certificates in People and Culture, and Digital Transformation.

 

Change is constant in businesses and organizations of all sizes, and that’s why Royal Roads University Professional and Continuing Studies is offering a pair of new Graduate Certificate programs focused on equipping professionals for an evolving world.

The Graduate Certificate in People and Culture focuses on human resources and other leaders to help them inspire people, build a powerful and positive organizational culture, and navigate organizational change. Participants will learn about advanced strategies for fostering collaboration, inclusivity and continuous learning within diverse workplaces. 

The Graduate Certificate in Digital Transformation aims to prepare professionals to lead and manage digital initiatives within their organizations. Covering key areas such as digital strategy, innovation and change management, the course provides students with the tools to navigate and leverage the digital landscape.

Graduate Certificate in People and Culture

Carolyne Taylor says proper training is critical for HR leaders.

“We spend so much time at work, and if it’s a place where we’re unhappy, then the business or the organization isn’t going to thrive,” says Taylor, who has been in this role for 35 years, the member relations manager (Vancouver Island) for Chartered Professionals in Human Resources of British Columbia & Yukon.

“You don’t want to be the organization in a somewhat tight talent pool that’s getting bad reviews,” she notes. “You want to be the place that people want to work.”

A good work culture “has not only the goals of the organization but the goals of the employees themselves in mind, so we can all move forward, so we can be better humans, better versed in our work, enjoying coming to work. All of those things are so key,” Taylor says.

Sharing best practices in RRU’s Graduate Certificate program can help create substantially better organizations “where people want to come to work.”

“You want to be the person who people say made a difference in your work life,” she says. “You can only be that person if you’re open to learning, if you’re open to being a better person yourself. And that’s what we get from going through programs like this.”

And it’s not just HR professionals who will benefit from the People and Culture course, says Zoe MacLeod, RRU’s associate vice-president, Professional and Continuing Studies.

"Our Graduate Certificate in People and Culture is designed to equip a variety of professionals with the advanced strategies they need to foster collaboration, inclusivity and continuous learning within diverse workplaces,” she says.

“We understand that the heart of any successful organization lies in its people,” MacLeod adds. “By investing in our people, we build powerful and positive organizational cultures that can navigate and thrive through change."

 

Graduate Certificate in Digital Transformation

Digital transformation, says Burak Evren, is about leveraging data for the good of a business.

A digital media executive for almost 20 years internationally and, more recently, in Victoria, B.C., Evren is also a Royal Roads graduate (Master of Global Management) and associate faculty who works with tech companies across Canada, and he says: “Any business needs to understand how they can use data to make decisions in the long run.

“It’s a cultural shift,” he notes. “It’s not how much infrastructure investment you do in the hardware, it’s mostly what you do with the information you have and how you can create meaningful results — for your stakeholders, for your customers, for your business — or how fast you can make decisions.”

An education in digital transformation allows people to be change leaders in their work so their organizations can be nimble and successful.

“Anytime we can learn quickly and make a decision on the fly, in real time, we can make business more productive,” he says, adding, “The role of educational institutions is to help people to transform their understanding of digital media.”

He uses as an example the hoopla around artificial intelligence and what it may mean to society and business, saying, “People are afraid of how AI will change their life. It’s not something to be scared of but you have to get yourself prepared.”

Indeed, Royal Roads’ MacLeod notes: "In today's fast-paced digital landscape, staying ahead of the curve is crucial for any business. Our Graduate Certificate in Digital Transformation provides professionals with the tools and knowledge to lead and manage digital initiatives effectively,” she says.

"At Royal Roads, we are committed to providing programming that is both relevant and aligned with industry needs. Both of these new graduate certificates — in People and Culture and Digital Transformation — reflect the evolving demands of the professional world. By offering these cutting-edge programs, we ensure our graduates are well-equipped to meet the challenges of today and tomorrow, and to make an impact in their fields."

 

Learn more about Royal Roads’ Graduate Certificates in People and Culture, and Digital Transformation.